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"I’ed "Okay, Allie Get our purses, will you? Thanks, Maggie"

"Hey, you guys stay late for hed, a happy woht But overti docked Get out of here"

Waving good-bye, the two left Maggie frowned once they were gone, trying to concentrate on one of the receipts she couldn’t quite read When she heard the light tinkling of the bell at the front door, she was startled, and realized she had forgotten to lock up

"I’ out But then she saw thejust inside the doorway

Tall, sli, wiry build He was dressed in casual black pants and a soft silk shirt His features were classical and arresting, his eyes were a curious gold-hazel, al

"Hello--Maggie," he said

"Oh, God!" she breathed

She set down her receipts

"Maggie, you don’t look happy to see an old friend I tried to warn you that I was in town I came by to see the pretty old lady the other day Didn’t she tell you?" Her mouth was dry "No, no, she didn’t tell ht in the hospital"

"I’ old bird"

"You didn’t--you didn’t hurt her--"

"Now, Maggie! I wouldn’t have hurt the old darling for the world I did wind up taking her out for cafe au lait--she does know her coffees We had a lovely walk, and I brought her back here, safe and sound"

Maggie hesitated a longto control both her fear and her temper "Thank you"

"My pleasure"

"And what have you been doing?" she de to sink in her chest "You haven’t come to New Orleans to be kind to old ladies" He studied his nails They were long, neatly manicured, buffed to a shine

"No It’s absolutely perfect at the ski resorts in Switzerland, this time of year" She dreaded her next question

"Then hy are you here?"

By then, he had reached the rear desk He leaned against it, s "For the sake of old times!" he said softly He touched her cheek "I care about you, Maggie I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you"

"It’s been over between us for a long time!" she reminded him

"Umm Maybe That’s what you believe There is, however, always the future, isn’t there?"

"No"

"Well, of course I can just leave "

"Wait!"

"What was that?" he inquired, arching a brow

Maggie gritted her teeth "Please wait," she said

"Ah?"

He perched upon the desk, crossing his arms over his chest He smiled like a well-fed cat

"Please, tell me why you’re here," she said "Oh, God, you haven’t been "

"Excuse me?"

"Lucian, I--"

"No! I haven’t been"

"Then?"

His sht a tre to her limbs He did care about her In his way

"I’ve coie and Cissy cagie was alone again, staring at the front door, seeing nothing

"Is everything all right?" Angie asked her